Illuminated sign



Oct. 13, 1936.

J, J. sHlvELY ET AL ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed May 28, 1955 2 SheebS-Shee'l 1 Y @Jm m2 9 @m Q NU O n O o www o v #N l l |111 l ,il l,

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ATTORNEY ct.i13, 1936. J. J. sHlvELY ET AL ILLUMINATED SIGN 2 sheds-sheet 2 led May 28, i1955 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 13, 1936 ILLUMINATED SIGN John J. shively, New York, N. Y., and Miles Pennybacker, `Wesvt Orange, N. J., assignors, to Neosign Corporation, a corporation of Dela- Ware Application May 28, 1935, Serialy No.l 23,832

9 Claims.

This invention relatesrto an illuminated sign employing a grid of tubing lled with neon or other suitable gas. As such tubes and the manner of operating them is Well known, the grid 5 Will not be described in detail.

The object of the invention is to provide a complete unit assembly or chassis that is simple and cheap to manufacture and which is adapted for use in a number of different casings, the chassis l carrying all of the operating parts of the sign as hereinafter described, and the casing serving merely to enclose the chassis, there being no working parts mounted on the casing.

Heretofore, it has been customary to assemble l the parts such as the grid, reflectors, transformer, etc. in or upon the casing of the sign. Such a complete sign is shown in the copending application Serial No. 22,333 led May 20, 1935, entilted Illuminated sign. Such a sign must have the parts secured to the outer casing and usually this is of bakelite or other insulating material which, if cracked or damaged, permits the parts to shift position. Furthermore, if the casing is broken, it is necessary to disassemble the entire sign in order to replace the same.

The present invention makes it possible to assemble all of the parts in a metal frame which is then mounted in an outer insulating casing from which it can be removed Without disassembling the parts. This also facilitates manufacture and has other advantages and objects which Will be apparent from the following specification of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a rear View of Ia sign chassis embody ing the invention Without the transformer;

Figure 2 is a View Aof the top of the chassis, Figure l;

Figure` 3 is aviewof the bottom of the chassis,

Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an end View of chassis, Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional View on the line 5-5, Figure l;

Figure 6 is a View of the bottom of the chassis,

Figure 1, with the transformer mounted thereon;

Figure 7 is a sectional View on the line 'I-l, Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a view partly in section, similar to Figure '7 but showing an insulating casing enclosing the chassis; and

Figure 9 is an external rear view of the complete chassis and casing, Figure 8.

The frame I0 is stamped or otherwise suitably formed-preferably from a sheet of metal. The

blank is stamped flat, the rectangular center porq (Cl. I0-132) tion II being removed and the laterally extendf ing portions I2, I3, I4, I5 being bent rearwardly as shown to form the top, bottom and sides of the frame.

The rear edge of the top is slotted asA shown at 5 I6 to receive the forked ends I1 of the cross mem-l bers I8, the purpose of which will be presently described. These members have the outwardly extending tongues I9 Which extend into corresponding slots 20 in the bottom I 3. l0

Theframe and` cross members being complete as. just described, the other parts may be assembled therein. These parts comprise a transparent panel 2I of glass or the like which fits Within the space between the top, bottom and 15 sides of frame I0 and closes the rectangular opening in the front of same.

Behind this panel or glass 2l is positioned the grid 22 of luminous tubing, as previously referred to. 'Ihis grid may lie flat against the inner sur- 2() face of glass 2I, and is provided with the usual electrode terminals 23, 24.

In the rear of this grid may be positioned a suitable reflector 25 or a separate reflector strip for each horizontal leg of the grid, as more fully 25 described in the copending application Serial No. 11,903, filed March 20, 1935, entitled Luminous tube sig-n, it being understood that said strips 25 are separated from each other and vfrom the metal frame by suitable air gaps or insulation 25. 3 0 The reflector is preferably of metal.

Strips of insulating material 21e-preferably resilient, such as sponge-rubber-are placed against the rear of said reflector strips, these rubber strips corresponding to each of the cross members I8. 35

' Themembers I8 now have their tongues I9 inserted in slots 20 and are pressed down until the forked ends I'I thereof lie in the slots I6 in the rearedge of the top I2. The frame and the tongues 2Q, left extending from this edge between 40 each pair of slots I'l are bent downwards over the members I8 and secure same in place. Thus the entire assembly is secured together Without the use of screws or other separate fastening means. 45

The arrangement and assembly of parts are such that when -a plurality of metal reflector strips 25 are used, each strip is insulated from the others and from the frame I0. This prevents any short circuiting or other harmful effect due 50 to the close proximity of the metal reflector strips to the glass grid 22, these strips being insulated via the air gaps 26 and the rubber strip 2l.

The complete chassis as just described can now be mounted in a suitable casing that Will surparts.

round and enclose all parts thereof except the panel 2| which is left exposed.

The terminals 23, 24 being connected to a suitable source of current, the grid 22 will be illuminated and the panel 2| will have the -appearance of a sheet of neon glow. By marking suitable indicia thereon, the device acts as asign--or advertising device. It is customary to use alternating current, 110

to volts with these signs, using a transformer to increase the voltage sufllciently to actuate th grid 22 and when it is desired to mount'the transformer on the chassisjust described it can, kr

3.. Thevsign as .claimed in claim 2 wherein the with the brackets 30--30 which are attahedgby be done by providing the "u ltransforner29 screws or any other suitable means to the top and bottom of frame l0.

connected to the terminals 23, 24 of the grid and the primary terminals32 'are connected to the alternating currentsupplyf This arrangement provides a chassis complete with transformer, and

there are no connections between these parts yto transformer as just described fmounted in a frontf casing 33 and a rearcasing 34 of insulating-material. These casings completelys'urround and enclose all metal parts andprevent all liability of injury to the user in case any metal vpart comesv in contact with thel secondary circuit ofthe transformer.

, The screws 35 holding thev casings 33,y 34 together do not connect with any of the interior The flexible cord36 connects to the primary terminals 32 kof the transformer and passes through a slot 3"Y in the rear casing, v'so -that the casings 33, 34 maybe separated by removing screws 35 and the chassis removed without disconnecting the cord 36 therefrom.

The metal parts of the chassis may be grounded via the conductor 38. The chassis may be assembled without the transformer and is then encased as just described, the transformer being mounted elsewhere and the secondary thereof connected via suitable leads with the grid terminals.

What is claimed is; Y l. An illuminated'sign comprising a1frame, va

transparent panel therein,"a luminous'grid in the" rear of said panel, a reflectorl behind said grid,` a resilient member behind and engaging said reflector, and a member extending across the back and into the side wallsfof'said frame and The. transformer is... mounted on these brackets inany` suitable;man-'i ner, and the secondary terminals 3l of s,ameareg 5,.

2. An illuminated sign comprising a frame having its outer portions folded at right angles to the face thereof to form rearwardly extending side walls, a transparent panel and -a luminous grid and a reflector in said frame and lying below the rear edges of the side walls thereof, resilient members behind said reflector, and means including cross members secured to said side walls and extending across the back of said frame to engage said resilient member in compression whereby said panel, grid and reflector may be held-.in said frame by the pressure of said resilient members.

lframe'is formed from one piece 4of metal, the center portion being cut out except at the edges and the folded-back portions being slotted to receive the ends of the cross members.

4. The sign as claimed in claim 2 wherein the side walls Aare provided with integral tongues dapted to,y bel folded over the cross members to secure same in place.

"15. The signas claimed in claim 2 wherein two of the sidewalls have slots adapted to receive the ends of the cross members.

' 6. The sign as claimed in claim 2 wherein the frame and'crossmembers have interlocking integral partswhereby they are secured together.

7. An illuminated sign comprising a frame having itsY outer portions folded at right angles to the face thereof to form rearwardly extending walls, a'transparent panel in said frame, a. luminous grid engaging the back of said panel, a plurality of reflector strips engaging said grid, cross members secured to said side walls and extending across the back of said frame, and insulating means retained by said cross members and engaging said reflector strips whereby said strips, gridf and panel are positioned in Ysaid frame.

8. The sign as claimed in claim '7, but wherein said panel, grid, reflector strips, pads and cross walls.

9. An illuminated sign comprising a frame having its outer portions folded at right angles to theface thereof to form rearwardly extending walls, 'a transparent panel in said frame,-a luminous grid engaging the back of said panel, a plurality of reflector strips engaging said grid, cross members secured to said side walls and extending across the back of said frame, insulating means retained by said cross members and engaging said reflector strips whereby said strips, grid andpanel are positioned in said frame, and a transformer secured to said frame and having leads rconnected to said grid.

JOHN J. SHIVELY.

MILES PENNYBACKER. 

